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Daily industrial news and top headlines for plant and maintenance managers

Wheelift Systems (Waverly, IA) has announced its space-saving, self-propelled trailers (SPT) in capacities to 100 tons. According to the company, the trailers are ideal for in-plant operation in congested, confined areas, and narrow intersection aisles. In addition, they include computerized independent steering, on-center rotating front axles, remote control operation, a low-profile design, and onboard power generation.

Parker Hannifin Corporation (Huntsville, AL) has created a package of tube fabrication tools for small bore tube assembly. The new package provides all the equipment necessary to successfully install tube fittings — both CPI and A-LOK — in various system applications, and includes benders, a cutter, a deburrer tool, a sawing vise with an integral hacksaw guide, and an inspection gauge.

The TSFR Series Magnetic Drive Rotary Vane Pumps from Clark Solutions (Hudson, MA) are designed for applications such as heat exchange and process loops, where many hours of operation are required. The TSFR Pumps are AC-powered, have four speed selections, and are rated for continuous flow to 1,000 l/h (264gph).

Advance (Plymouth, MN) now offers battery and electric burnishers that meet requirements for sustainable cleaning equipment specified by LEED-EBOM, such as the Advolution 20BT battery burnisher and the Advolution 20XP electric burnisher. Both are available with active dust control, and operate at a sound level of less than 70 dBA.

Douglas K. Woods, AMT President
McLean, Va. — AMT, The Association For Manufacturing Technology, applauds President Obama’s creation of a new post overseeing manufacturing policy. Ron Bloom was named Special Assistant to the President for Manufacturing Policy within the White House’s National Economic Council.

The traditional view of operational STOs holds that they are maintenance and engineering events, which is a simplistic view held by many organizations. A more realistic and holistic perspective, however, recognizes that the impact and scope of STOs extend far beyond the maintenance and engineering functions, and can command significant capital and operating budgets.

It's been hard to avoid coverage about the massive protests happening in Egypt right now, or the news that the government effectively activated an internet "kill switch," which cut off protesters from spreading images and video to the outside world. In an effort to help foster a democratic, open society in Egypt, technology companies like Google, and groups like Tor, have initiated projects to help get the word out in a variety of ways.

For years, some have been pushing for more strict regulation on the amount of sodium that Americans consume on a daily basis. As everyone knows, a high-sodium diet can lead to high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and countless other health risks. So, should the government step in and force fast food chains and food processors to tone down the salt?
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From Steel , a short film from Michael John Evans, documents the process of building a custom steel bicycle at Soulcraft, owned and operated by Sean Walling. As always, we try to honor and appreciate those who perform great work, and we think this is an excellent example of why the U.S. still dominates the rest of the world in manufacturing.

Zappos, the online shoe retailer, is a unique company in a couple of ways. First of all, they like to say that they're a service company, and that they just happen to sell shoes. Imagine getting that kind of service at most companies. But more importantly, they offer a variety of perks—such as free lunches and ice cream—and they try to maintain a festive, positive atmosphere around the offices.

PASCAGOULA, Miss. (AP) — Petroleum company Chevron Corp. said Monday that it will build a $1.4 billion lubricants plant in Pascagoula, Miss., a project that will create roughly 1,000 construction jobs over the next two years.
The facility will extend Chevron's existing refinery in Pascagoula, which employs more than 1,600 workers.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — More than $46 million was spent for and against a failed November ballot measure that would have suspended California's landmark global warming law, according to campaign finance reports filed Monday.
Out-of-state oil companies and their supporters spent $10.5 million promoting Proposition 23, while opponents spent more than $36 million.

Pfizer beats views despite slight profit decline
NEW YORK (AP) — Pfizer Inc. said Tuesday its fourth-quarter profit nearly quadrupled from a year ago when it was weighed down by restructuring charges, as revenue rose 6 percent, thanks to the addition of products from fellow drugmaker Wyeth, acquired late in 2009.

SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — Intel Corp. on Monday said it has found a design flaw in a recently released chip, and is working with laptop makers to replace affected computers.
Sales lost while the company rushes out a replacement chip, and the cost of replacing computers with the flawed chip, will cost the company $1 billion, it said.

DETROIT (AP) — Chrysler was collapsing when Fiat took control of the company just 19 months ago.
Now, under the Italian automaker's detail-driven CEO, Chrysler is on the verge of turning its first profit since it filed for bankruptcy protection in 2009.
Chrysler Group LLC on Monday said it dramatically narrowed its losses in the fourth quarter and 2010.

SHANGHAI (AP) — China's manufacturing boom eased further in January as authorities tightened controls on credit, though inflationary pressures continued to rise, according to data released Tuesday.
The state-affiliated China Federation of Logistics and Purchasing said its purchasing managers index, or PMI, dipped to 52.

Factory sector expands at fastest pace in 7 years
WASHINGTON (AP) — America's factory sector expanded in January at the fastest pace in seven years, asmanufacturers reported a sharp jump in new orders.
The Institute for Supply Management, a private trade group, says its index of manufacturing activity rose last month to 60.

TOKYO (AP) — Toyota remains Japan's No. 1 global brand, but its value has fallen by nearly a fifth because of the recent massive recalls that dented consumer trust in the quality of its cars, according to an international consultant.
An Interbrand report released Tuesday said that the value of the Toyota Motor Corp.

DETROIT (AP) — Despite snowy weather in the Northeast that kept buyers shoveling driveways and not shopping for cars, January auto sales in the United States are expected to come in higher than a year ago.
Sales could rise 15 percent to 17 percent compared with last January, a sign that auto sales are continuing their slow, steady recovery from 2009, when sales bottomed out.

The Guidelok SL, from igus (East Providence, RI) is designed for vertical cable carrier applications operating on storage-and-retrieval units in high-bay warehouses, as well as elevators and material handling equipment. According to the company, it is compact and easy-to-install, even when being retrofitted into an existing system.